World
A Starchy Palm Tree Extract May Be Indonesia’s Answer to Rice
- Government may allow people to choose sago in food aid program
- Agriculture ministry framing guidelines for sago cultivation
This article is for subscribers only.
Indonesia is betting on a natural starch extracted from tropical palm trees to cut its dependence on rice and ensure food security in the world’s fourth most-populous nation.
Commonly known as sago, the starch is found in the spongy part of stems and used to prepare foods such as noodles, snacks and porridge-like meals. It’s seen as a healthier alternative to rice because of its lower glycemic index -- a measure of how fast carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels in the body. About 84% of the world’s sago trees grow in Indonesia.